Executioner

*Tzzz Tzzz* Your pocket vibrated and illuminated with light.

Reaching in, You brandished your phone. Rose looking on at it "You got a Trext massage." She said, rather childishly.

You raised an eyebrow, nodding "Yeah...."

Opening the Notification, You read.

Aunt Hilde: "You are late. It's time for training to begin. Bring the Strigga."

You puzzled "Bring the Strigga?" You muttered. Rose's gentle smile faded. and she Stood up from the couch, holding your hand.

"We'll have to walk. Cars make me motion sick."

Grabbing Your father's Sword hesitantly and cautiously slinging it over your shoulder, Rose was already at the door, with a very serious look on her face "Why does Hilde want You to come?" You asked as You closed and locked the door behind you.

Rose was mostly quiet as You descended the stairs, her clearly finding it a little difficult, so You helped. She smiled a little at You, but became quickly consumed by her thoughts.

You didn't disrupt her until the two of you were walking out of the Academy Grounds, where you gently took her arm, and looked at her with a deadly seriousness.

She frowned a little, absorbing your penetrating stare as You prepared yourself to ask "Are you One of them?" You asked, deeply, darkly.

"If you're going to ask me something, be plain with your words." She whispered.

Biting You lip, nervously, You spoke as a gentle wind "Are you Undead? like Daisy?"

A strange kind of smile came about her face, one that was deep and sinister "Would that bother you?"

"I don't know." You answered Honestly.

But Rose relaxed, and moved in, Kissing your cheek and smiling sweetly "I was. but not like Daisy, she's something different. I am Human, for now." She answered "I don't to hide anything from you. But you have to trust me, I need you to trust me. please?"

You felt the warmth of her skin, and Looked at the swell of her belly, your fingers running through her fiery hair "Always." You smiled.

"Good. Now come one, I don't want to keep the Rabbit waiting." As cryptic as that seemed to be, You followed in silence, trying your best not to speculate on just what any of this meant.

Wallace was quiet and dark, the sun had sent leaving a dry melancholy behind, this city fell so lonely like this, was Jormungandr really that destructive? *Sigh* well you'd seen it's aftermath, decimating the rich quarter, of course, it was, You only wondered just what kind of thing could do that, was it a weapon? or some experiment that went wrong? nothing was off the table in the world you were walking into.

Oddly, Rose lead you straight into Hilde's basement apartment, knocking with the precise 2/4 knock that Hilde had told you to use.

The Door clicked unlocked, and Rose pivoted round to look at you "Do not worry about me, Okay? I can take care of myself."

You frowned "Why would I have to-"

Rose pushed the door open and ushered herself in, leaving you unanswered and suspicious.

Hilde's apartment was dark, darker than before, no lights were on, and You were embraced by the shadows as You walked through them. However, you were not quite blind, in fact, you could see better than fine.

You know when you step suddenly into a pitch-black room, Your eyes adjust overtime and stimulate the cornea to receive signals however small, of course, there was a boundary but--that was the thing, where you expected your eyes to meet that boundary of how well you could see in the black space, it kept on sharpening, fine-tuning and in record time, within 30 seconds you could see Rose standing still, you could see the strange decorations, tall tapestries hung on the walls adorned with the Black insignia that You hadn't seen in a very long time.

The Black Dragon, the very same your grandmother used to tell you stories about as a child... the very same that You spotted tattooed on a couple of people since you woke up, and this odd nostalgic feeling flowed through you, making you shiver and the surface of your neck prickling with goose pimples.

Unlit candles in golden scions were attached to the walls, gleaming dimly in the dark, a long Black and Ivory carpet inscribed with strange pictures lay on the floor, and at its head were two figures.

Sat, crossed legged, was Diana, dressed in a Long, Black robe that hugged her body tightly, it's long wisps splayed along the ground, her hair long and straight, with odd spiralling patterns painted on her cheeks. her eyes closed, you saw the eye-shaped pattern drawn on her eyelids.

And just in front of her, sat on her knees in a Meditative stance, was Remhilde, taller, stronger, Her robe longer and puffier, with a great Golden shroud about her shoulders, fixed with four circular talismans marked with differing symbols.

Her hair was tied in a high, intricate braid, lined with clips of gold. Her face was also painted, but the patterns were squared and diagonal, with a symbol that appeared like a pair of black lips on her forehead. She seemed dark and grandious with her eyes closed in that darkness, like a bishop of some kind of dark cult, with the Perfect fan of Tarrow cards displayed before her.

"What in the fuck?" You whispered.

Remhilde's eye opened, and in the shadows, they seemed like miniature suns that shone a fluorescent Gold. Diana also opened her eyes, and together they stared with an ominous dedication.

"You will not swear during the Initiation," Remhilde whispered. "Am I clear?"

You grimaced "What is this-"

"I said, Am I clear?"

You eyed her, Holding Rose's hand as she stood by your side "Yes. You're Clear."

Remhilde bowed her head "Good. You will remove your foot wear and You will kneel before me."

You were hesitant, this was all very weird and creepy. But Rose raised your hand to her lips and kissed gently "Go. It's okay." She whispered.

Taking a deep breath, You let go of her hand, carefully leaning down and Untying your shoes, removing them and placing them neatly to the side. Moving towards Your sister and Your aunt cautiously and kneeling just before them.

Remhilde stared, and her eyes were disarming, serious, inquisitive. She had a those strange very sharp looking Gauntlets in front of her, the silver gleaming even in the darkness, the boots between them just as sharp and just as bright. Didi also had that Hammer: Ymir laid before her.

"Bare the Blade, once owned by Romulus Drake: The Black Star and Jury of the Great House of Drake. The Blade with the soul of the Sun: Lugh." She instructed.

A little tweaked out, You unfurled the sword from your shoulder, and following their lead, you placed it neatly in front of You.

Hilde smiled a little "Good. Diana Drake: the Hammer of Dawn, the Unborn & the Firstborn, bring light to the darkness."

Diana obediently raised her palm, which you noticed was cut, oozing slightly with blood which she dabbed on her finger and drew into the air, great sparks of crimson lingering in her movements, as a glowing symbol was painted into space _"Hellfire: hot flash." _The Scions on the walls, with their candles, blazed to life, bathing everything in crimson light.

"That's Blood-Rune!" You cried though Hilde silenced you with a gaze.

"You will not speak until spoken to." She growled.

You promptly shut the fuck up.

Remhilde nodded to herself as she became absorbed in thought, You tried to look to Diana for some answers, but one she was still young and that only freaked you out more, and two, she seemed just as into it as your aunt was.

"I know you are confused. I know you are lost, You have been since your awakening, but together we make up the last active members of our Tribe, and as Cheiftan it is my responsibility to induct you properly into our fold. For millennia, our blood has crossed oceans of time, for 100 generations we have endured and battled without falling, standing strong were all other Descendant houses have been lost, because Drake's do not fall, Drake's do not compromise."

"Drake's do not compromise," Diana whispered.

You were starting to understand... this was... some kind of old family thing? like a ritual or something?

Remhilde stared fiercely "In our ancient dichotomy from mankind, we are special because of our blood. using the unclean powers of our Ancestor, The Mummer's Dragon, to protect the innocent, be they mortal or Immortal. To maintain the fabric of the grand charade, the charade that Humans are the apex predator on this planet.

In this task we are unwavering, Upon the slaughter of Humans in mass, we respond with ****, Upon the slaughter of Monsters in mass, we respond with ****. But only if the reason is not heeded. As Judge it is my job to determine the threat, As Jury, it is Diana's mission to respond with reason... and if they do not respond to reason..." Her eyes darkened "then as Executioner, it is your responsibility to snuff out the threat with **** prejudice. and Here, under the eye of our families ancient banner, I bequeath the Mission that was once mine, to you."

Sitting quietly, your breaths were slow, and your mind settled, despite the insane nature of this whole thing, You felt like... this was natural "Hilde.... I... don't know if I can do this. I saw... I saw Daisy today. I really Saw her." Diana frowned a little as You continued "I have never been so afraid in my life, seeing these things, these impossible things, it makes me feel like my heart is going to explode."

Hilde didn't seem upset by this like you suspected, in fact for the first time since you entered, she smiled widely, Leaning over and placing her hand on your chest "Fear is not a weakness, Charlie. it is mastering this Fear that gives up power."

Her hands swept down, rapidly shuffling the cards before her, the pictures among them blurring she folded and placed with hands that moved with an inhuman speed. Flipping the stack of hard, she faned them expertly in her hands and offered them to you "Place Your hand on the deck, the cards will tell of your fate, and of your place."

Oh god... here she goes with the Tarot cards... well, You'd seen stranger things so far... You placed your hand on the fan, and Remhilde closed her eyes.

Breathing deeply, You grimaced as the cards flashed an ominous Azure, shimmering violently. You snatched Your hand back as four in the deck slipped into the air, as if blown by the wind one by one, landing perfectly in front of you.

The first was the picture of a man, wielding a sceptre and an orb in the other, seated on a tall throne "The Emporer, Upright, the Sign of Power, authority, structure, focus, discipline and Fatherhood" Remhilde whispered.

The Second frazzled forward, sliding across the carpet before you. The Skeleton rode a pale horse on the card's surface, wielding a shadowed flag in darkness "The ****, upright: Of finality, change, release and transformation."

The Third was calm, and suave in the way it carefully slipped to the ground, twirling and landing upside down. A Horned, figure of crimson skin and flaming eyes hung upside down before you, it's cloven hoofs stamping in fury "The Devil, Reversed: A rejection of disaster, a sign of Freedom, of release and Fierce Victory."

Finally, the Fourth card slipped, calmly and peacefully, landing upright and sitting with its gentle image before you, Two figures in a deep embrace "The Lovers..." Remhilde smiled at this one "Upright. The Symbol of Relationships, unity, harmony and Desire."

Hilde placed the rest of the cards before her and gave you a coy smile "These are your signs, Your past, present and Future, the Spirits do not lie, and it is your fate to become our Executioner, and it is your fate to replace me as Chieftain, as You father did with Pops before us. You are out destined leader, Charlie, You know it in your heart."

You huffed... she was right, deep down, you felt... that she might be right, this weird Mystic stuff it brought on a crippling nostalgia, one that You couldn't place. That was starting to ger very very Old.

"If I accept this. all of this weird Descendant stuff. I want answers, I want to know Why my Sister is jailbait, I want to know how you know my Undead/not undead pregnant Girlfriend-"

"--I'll tell you whatever you want to hear." Remhilde smiled. "But you will join us. There is no if, I will not allow The Heir to our House to just slip out from my fingers. This is the only way, that we can keep this city safe... You won't neglect that, I know you to well to doubt that for a second, Chippy." It was strange how quickly Hilde flicked through emotions, from serious to humorous to Motherly... it was always odd, but it made you smile.

Sighing, You nodded seriously "If we do this, If I become a Warrior, an Executioner... will I ever be able to return, to a normal life?" You asked earnestly.

Hilde considered your words carefully, before coming to a silent finality "No."

"But we'll be saving people... and Monster's too?" You had Daisy in mind, even with the terrifying image of her on your mind, You couldn't even imagine anybody harming her, You simply refused to let that happen.

"Yes" Hilde answered.

"We need you with us, Chip, I can't be out in the Field by myself." Diana finally spoke, though her eyes were shy. it was weird, she was exactly like she was as a teen, stubborn sounding but subtly shy.

"Fine." You nodded "I'll do it. But.., I'm fucking terrified of this, you know that right?" your grumble was childish.

"You'll get over it, now come here."

Leaning over to your aunt, she dabbed her fingers in a pot of coal-black paint and began to draw symbols on your face. She was close... very close, and she smelt like flowers. sure she was dressed like an evil version of Padme Amidala but... that was kind hot. GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME DRAKE!

You heard Diana chuckle, you scowled "What are you laughing at?"

"You look like a monochrome clown" Diana laughed.

"That's rich coming from you, Eyelids, maybe with those extra eyes you'll gain some sense, short stack?" You spat.

Diana grimaced, taken back by your insults "Fuck you, asshole, what happened did you forget to clean the cum from your hair, slut!?"

You coddled your mismatched hair of Brown and off-white "IT'S A STRESS OF BEING COMATOSE YOU INSENSITIVE DICKFACE!"

*BOOM*

You froze.

Hilde had brandished a silver coin, almost out of nowhere, the muscles in her finger flexed unnaturally and in less than the blink of an eye, she flicked the coin so hard that it shot like a bullet, cutting through the air and blowing clean through Diana's skull, entering her forehead and blasting her brains out against the floor.

Your mouth hung open, bloodshot and shocked, as Diana's eyes went cross, a confused look on her face as blood poured down from the entrance point, thumping against the floor as she lay there.... dead.

Grasping the hilt of Lugh with clawed hands, your teeth clamping together as Hilde's hand grabbed the sheath, your arms flexing in rage as she stared with calm cold eyes "There it is, there's that anger, I was wondering when I'd see it in the flesh."

Your breaths were heavy, and fast, eyes blazing with ire "You killed her." You said half in disbelief.

Hilde chuckled at first but then laughed hysterically until she was guffawing maniacally, You staring like an angler fish as she slowly pipped down, and began to look a bit concerned, turning around to Diana who remained stone dead on the floor "Didi? DIDI YOU IDIOT GET UP!"

"She's dead! you murdered her why would she-"

Diana's body twitched, more and more slowly beginning to wriggle as crimson sparks began to flash all over her body, You looking on in horror as her exploded head began to rapidly reform her skin so red hot that fiery embers and smoke arose from her black hair that shot back out of her singed scalp, the skin healing, wounds closing, body quivering.

"*GASP!!!!!*" Diana flew up, her face contorted like she could smell something rotten her eyes trying to blink themselves back to normal as she rubbed her forehead "Ugh... what did I say about going for the head, it makes me all dizzzzzyyyyy!" She complained, shaking her head as she sniffed, seemingly completely unfazed saved for her confused disposition.

Immediately getting up, you dashed over to her and crouched by her side, feeling her head and checking her face in a mix of wonder and fear. she smelt like smoke, like a bonfire and her skin was so hot that it almost burned to the touch, though the blood in her face apparently wasn't because of her sudden revival "H-Hey...." She whispered as You surveyed her.

You frowned "What the fuck was thaaaaat." You whispered.

She smiled a little shyly "I may or may not be a Homunculus: an Artificial Clone of dad.... and... I could perhaps, be... just a little... Immortal?"

You blinked at her "Is that why you're... Young?" You asked.

Diana flushed again, going quiet.

"Her fluctuation in age seems to be a hormonal response." You jolted as Rose crouched beside you, Diana smiling a little as she saw her.

"Yes, I believe so too." You jolted again as Your aunt appeared out of nowhere on the otherside, looking at Diana inquisitively "We have been experimenting with several methods of harm, and despite all the damage she remains young."

"It is not like an Undead's regeneration, all we do is repair the flesh that is damaged, we cannot restore it," Rose said matter a factly.

You and Didi blinked at each other as Rose and you Aunt speculated "No, I agree, from our recent training we've come to the conclusion that she's like a living energy circuit, that lightning must have been the conduit for activating her abilities like her heart is living engine constantly generating energy."

"What lightning what?" You asked, completely clueless.

"I was struck by lightning..." Diana said to you timidly.

"But it is more than just a physical response, Is her behaviour the same as when she was this age?" Rose asked Hilde who nodded.

"Spot on. still a little timid, stubborn and terrible with men. Explodes at negative stimuli-"

Diana interrupted Hilde angrily "I AM NOT TERRIBLE WITH MEN!"

Hilde pointed casually "See?"

Your sister looked ready to boil over, Rose and Remhilde seemed to be ready to speculate all day, and You didn't have a god damn clue what was going on "Okay, stop!" You clicked your fingers at all of them "Just... stop. okay? let's just slow down, chill out, no blowing people's brains out with lady liberty!" You pointed at Your aunt who pouted a little "Pregnant ladies please sit down and relax." You said to Rose. "And Immortal little-big sister's just calm down, 'kay?"

The three of them paused but did as You bid, Rose walking over to the couch and placed herself down calmly, Hilde moved back over to her spot, and You patted Didi on the shoulder as she relaxed a little.

Moving over back in front of Hilde, you checked that everybody was cool and sat down "Please, continue."

Smiling at You, Hilde's hand slithered forward tapping the Emporer Tarot card before giving you a wink and hoisting up your father's sword.

standing ceremoniously, she cleared her throat "Bow your head, Chip." You did so and she drew the blade that burned red hot in the darkness. Lowering to your shoulder, feeling it's heat only inches away, Hilde knighted you gracefully "This night, do you, Charles, son of Romulus, take an Oath on Your father's Blade, to protect Humanity and the Darkness, until the day of your ****?"

You nodded "I do."

Remhilde twirled the burning blade in her hands expertly, and offered it to you "Then that's all there is to it, Executioner." She grinned.

You reached out for the handle and brushing your aunt's tattooed hand, You grasped it tightly and stood tall, smiling at the flames in the engraved steel "This was his... He used it before me?"

Diana smiled, and so did your aunt "It was the third most important thing in his life." Hilde whispered.

You and Didi gave each other a look, you didn't have to ask what the other two were.